Are you a pack rat?
By TexanTornado
@TexanTornado (5573)
United States
September 4, 2015 5:25pm CST
If you don't know what a 'pack rat' is, it's a person who saves everything.
According to the Merriam Webster the definition is: a person who collects or hoards especially unneeded items
I have to admit for the most part, I am a pack rat. I will save things from weddings, baby showers, etc. that I have attended years ago. I even have collected and saved seashells from our trips to the beach. Some things I have is due to sentimental value.Other things is I have this voice inside me telling me, 'Self you might need that some day. Or it would work great in a craft project.'
Many years later, I run across certain things and it's like, 'What was I thinking in keeping that?' I then give myself a mental slap.
So are you a pack rat? What type of things have you saved that you know you should have thrown away?
22 people like this
25 responses
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
5 Sep 15
I used to be pack rat. In the past I saved all sorts of things for instance lots of old magazines.Today I only save the things that I really want to keep. I save some things because of their sentimental value, but I have become much better at throwing things away. I moved a couple of months ago, and before I packed my things I donated a lot of old things to second hand shops. My husband is still a pack rat, and his workshop is completely full of things because he doesn't throw anything away.
5 people like this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
It's funny you mentioned magazines. We have years worth of old National Geographic Magazines. However, we have no plans of throwing them out. They have special shelves in our home library.
Oh donate it a great idea. About all we donate is clothing. I couldn't possible throw away or give away my sentimental stuff, unless it was to someone in the family.
A man's workshop is his palace, you can't possible take that away from him. I think every man has containers or different screws, bolts, scraps, etc.4 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
5 Sep 15
@TexanTornado We can hardly open the door between the office and the workshop because there is so much stuff in his workshop but as long as our living room doesn't look the same way I am okay with it.
but as long as our living room doesn't look the same way I am okay with it.3 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
5 Sep 15
@Porcospino Your husband sounds like mine! He never gets rid of anything! 
lol
lol2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
5 Sep 15
I'm like you and @Rosekitty. I'm guilty of being a pack rat. But it isn't my fault...really! 
I blame my husband and kids! 
lol
I blame my husband and kids! lol2 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
5 Sep 15
@sacmom..yes that is a great excuse blame the kids...wait mine are gone..oh i see we get to blame yours..boy they sure do go from house to house
2 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
5 Sep 15
@TexanTornado yes thanks to her we can be FREE
2 people like this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
@Rosekitty Yes, we can just blame @sacmom 's and we are free and clear. Isn't that great?
2 people like this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
I think that is great. I wish I could find that motivation to do that. Perhaps, if I was moving, I could find the motivation a lot easier.
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
5 Sep 15
I am guilty and i don't care who knows it..hahah..I save and then throw as needed but like you i have many sentimentals i will never dump..
2 people like this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
@Rosekitty Do you really want to know? I don't think I do. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss.
Do you really want to know? I don't think I do. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss.2 people like this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
Well, everyone knows now. Yes, I have so many things passed down to me from the generations that I could never discard. It will simply be passed down to the next generation.
Yes, I have so many things passed down to me from the generations that I could never discard. It will simply be passed down to the next generation.2 people like this
@allknowing (137959)
• India
6 Sep 15
I have a weakness for sentimental things. I am now making a determined effort to reduce them as much as possible.
2 people like this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
6 Sep 15
@allknowing Ah ok, so you sitting right along the side of the rest of us then. It's nice to have more company.
Ah ok, so you sitting right along the side of the rest of us then. It's nice to have more company.1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
6 Sep 15
How is it working out for you? And if you succeed, you will have to tell us your secret.
@tessastv (273)
• Inverness, Scotland
6 Sep 15
Oh I'm definitely not a pack rat anymore.. I used to collect empty perfume bottles and got a drawer full of them.
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
6 Sep 15
Oh I bet that is a nice collection to have though. I haven't heard of anyone collecting those in a very long time.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
6 Sep 15
@tessastv Perhaps a curio cabinet to display them in would be nice? I'm sure it's a fine collection. I can understand why you stopped, and the needed to store them.
1 person likes this
@tessastv (273)
• Inverness, Scotland
6 Sep 15
@TexanTornado Yeah it used to be so nice to have all those bottles collected, all shapes and fragrances, but as soon as it required way too much space to stuff them.. I gave up and then realised it was actually a helpful movement.
1 person likes this
@deafdiva (242)
• United States
5 Sep 15
well I think I am a pack rat in certain things like letters, pictures, and cards! I am a very sentimental person! I even print out the pictures I take with my phone! I love to make collages of pictures from events that I go to like birthday parties!
2 people like this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
Oh that is great. And yes, I can clearly see those collections would be sentimental and quite worth collecting.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
5 Sep 15
I am not in real sense of the term. I have only a few items that I have with me - an ancient broken table clock - that no one in the state can repair, a shaving kit. Both of these are decades old. They belonged to my late Grandfather and he had mentioned that the table clock belonged to his grand father. I have saved them just for the sake of memories and as a symbol of regards and respect to the best friend, philosopher and guide in my life.
Apart from that, I do not have anything old except my own body which is about 42 years old
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
5 Sep 15
@TexanTornado I know, I cannot part with them. Maybe the next generation may think of that.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
Oh how nice. I would call those treasures though. You really shouldn't part with them. Not only are they sentimental, you might actually want to get them appraised, they might be worth some money.
at the body comment. Good one.
at the body comment. Good one.1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
@thesids You might have to make sure they do. Like typing it in your will, 'If you part with this, I will haunt you for the rest of your days.'
1 person likes this
@rebelann (113001)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Sep 15
oh yeah, I'm a packer all right, seems I just know I can recycle everything that comes across my home, so far not so good down here in this part of TX not many actually care much about recycling and boy have I got a ton o stuff that I just know could be recycled ..... 
if only I could find the bin to put these odd ball things into 
1 person likes this
@rebelann (113001)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Sep 15
@TexanTornado I buy those half gallons in the waxy cartons and I'm setting them up for seeds, hopefully next year I'll actually have bloomin plants
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
7 Sep 15
@rebelann Yes, that is what I meant. They are great for starter plants too. I mean you plant seeds in them, and once they sprout up and grow a bit, transfer them into a bigger planter. But yes, you can decorate and paint the milk jugs making them pretties.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
Oh that is a good one. It does make it hard to recycle when there is no bins for the stuff. You could always try making crafts with the stuff. Like using milk jugs, and making planters with them.1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
6 Sep 15
I am very much a hoarder / pack rat. My mum keeps trying to get me to watch a TV show called the hoarder next door. I wouldn't be surprised if the makers turn up trying to film me one day.
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
6 Sep 15
@TexanTornado I am pretty bad. I often can't see the floor in my bedroom and finding things can be quite a struggle sometimes
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
6 Sep 15
@arthurchappell Wow! That is pretty bad. So if you don't mind me asking. What kind of things do you collect that takes up so much room?
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
6 Sep 15
OMG! that is too funny. I actually watch the program 'hoarders', and it always freaks me out to see it. I truly hope you aren't that bad. That is a lot of collecting.1 person likes this
@Cristi_Ichim (3743)
• Bucharest, Romania
6 Sep 15
I don't think that I collect unneeded objects so I think that I am not that type of person
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
6 Sep 15
That is great if you don't. You must be the 1 out of a 1,000,000 that don't.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
6 Sep 15
@Cristi_Ichim You are pretty rare, but yes, that was just an example. I might have over exaggerated it a tad bit.
2 people like this
@Cristi_Ichim (3743)
• Bucharest, Romania
6 Sep 15
@TexanTornado I don't think that I am that rare but...
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
I am the same way. However, when I do get around to that craft project and what I saved doesn't work, then I throw it away.
it away.1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
@sofssu Well, I have the excuse that I am 'crazy'. You have said so many of times. So what is your excuse??
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472121)
• Switzerland
5 Sep 15
I am also guilty, I am not exactly a hoarder (my husband is!!!), but I have collected plenty of things. I have collected books, cooking magazines, personal photos, scrapbooks and diaries. I know I should declutter a bit. I blame hubby, he does not want I throw anything before he agrees, that means he never.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
@LadyDuck Old newspapers? What is he keeping those for? Now comics I can understand if he is a collector, they can be worth some money. You might want to hold on to those.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
Oh another one with a great excuse, of blaming the husband. I wish I could blame mine, but he has no problem with me throwing my stuff away, just don't touch his.
I wish I could blame mine, but he has no problem with me throwing my stuff away, just don't touch his. 1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472121)
• Switzerland
5 Sep 15
@TexanTornado You are lucky, it's a pain to have plenty of stuff around the house (old newspapers, magazines, comics) that nobody read and not to be able to get rid of them.
1 person likes this
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
5 Sep 15
I guess you could say I'm a pack rat in a way. I don't save everything, but I do save things that I don't really need.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
I think if we were all truly honest, we each could say the same. For example, I know a bunch of people that save concert tickets (myself included).
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
@sofssu Oh see those are truly sentimental. I can't say the same, mine are from different famous groups (yes, I have saved them all).
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
5 Sep 15
@TexanTornado The only few concert tickets I saved were the ones my sons have played the music or acted in.
The only few concert tickets I saved were the ones my sons have played the music or acted in.1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
5 Sep 15
I am not a pack rat. My mother and daughter are. So, is my boyfriend. I have no issue passing along things i no longer want or can use.
1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
6 Sep 15
@TexanTornado I know having less things, means less clutter and less house work. Espically when I am the one cleaning up for 4 people.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
5 Sep 15
That is remarkable. I wish I could say the same, but I can't.
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
6 Sep 15
@rusty2rusty You know you have 1 very valid point there. You are a wise one.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
10 Sep 15
I know what you mean. The place we donate too will only take certain items. Which they have a list of.
1 person likes this
@owstalaga (4707)
• Philippines
8 Sep 15
Yeah, I got it from my momma. It's something I'm still trying to get rid of. One day I'll get rid of all those school stuff and more that I still have so I don't have too many stuff to move when I move out again!
1 person likes this
@owstalaga (4707)
• Philippines
8 Sep 15
@TexanTornado Well you know how parental habits can pass on to everyone in the family. I'm trying to get rid of it. Hopefully I do soon enough.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
8 Sep 15
@owstalaga Yes, I understand that. Good luck in being able to purge.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
8 Sep 15
Oh she passed it on to you huh? Yes, it does seem wiser to get rid of a good bit of it before moving, cause after you move you will only accumulate more.
Yes, it does seem wiser to get rid of a good bit of it before moving, cause after you move you will only accumulate more.1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37384)
• Toccoa, Georgia
8 Sep 15
Yes, I am a pack rat. One thing I save are magazines. My husband makes me go through them and throw out old ones. It is so hard for me to throw them out! If I didn't, I would have stacks of magazines to the ceiling!
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
8 Sep 15
I know a few people who save magazine, for some reason or another. Is it due to specific articles that you keep them? Or perhaps tips given in them. Ok, reading your last statement, it's a matter of just collecting.
Ok, reading your last statement, it's a matter of just collecting.1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
28 Sep 15
No, I am not one for clutter in my house either. But stuff boxed in the closets or shoved in drawers, I have no problem with.
@Tampa_girl7 (50561)
• United States
7 Sep 15
I am a very sentimental person. I keep a lot of things.
1 person likes this
@TexanTornado (5573)
• United States
7 Sep 15
I think people like us, who are sentimental tend to keep more things then people who aren't.
